Fire Prevention Week 2016

October 4, 2016 09:59 AM

GFD is a proud supported of Fire Prevention Week which is fast approaching on October 9-15, 2016. The official campaign theme selected by The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is "Don’t Wait: Check the Date! Replace Smoke Alarms Every 10 Years." The focus on smoke alarm replacement comes as the result of a recent survey conducted by NFPA, which showed that only a small percentage of people know how old their smoke alarms are or how often they need to be replaced.

NFPA 72,National Fire Alarm Code®, requiressmoke alarmsbe replaced at least every 10 years, but because the public is generally unaware of this requirement, many homes likely have smoke alarms past their expiration date, putting people at increased risk in the event of a home fire.

"Smoke alarms play an essential role in home fire safety, but they have to be working properly in order to protect people," said Lorraine Carli, vice president of NFPA’s Outreach and Advocacy division. "This year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign represents the final year of a three-year effort to better educate the public about the importance of smoke alarms, and what it takes to make sure they’re in working order."

According to anNFPA report, in one-fifth (20 percent) of all U.S. homes with smoke alarms, the smoke alarms aren’t working; three out of five home fire deaths result from fires in properties without smoke alarms (38 percent) or with no working smoke alarms (21 percent).

"People tend to assume that simply having smoke alarms in their home ensures adequate protection from fires, but it takes regular testing and maintenance to ensure that that’s the case," said Carli. "Part of that effort is making sure you know how old the smoke alarms in your home are, and that they’re replaced every 10 years." Carli notes that the age of a smoke alarm can be determined by looking for the date of manufacture on the back or side of the alarm, and to replace the units 10 years from that date.

NFPA has been the official sponsor of Fire Prevention Week for more than 90 years. For more information on this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, "Don’t Wait: Check the Date! Replace Smoke Alarms Every 10 Years," visitwww.firepreventionweek.org or contact the Galesburg Fire Department at 309/345-3757.